Offering enormous opportunities for wildlife buffs, Uttaranchal is a fascinating land�abounding in wildlife. The varied topography of Uttaranchal makes it home to a variety of wildlife. Come to Uttaranchal and treat yourself to the rare and mesmerizing wildlife species such as snow leopard, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan musk deer etc.
Some of the Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in Uttaranchal are -
Corbett National Park
Sprawling over an area of 520 sq km, Corbett National Park is the first and one of the most famous Parks in India. Located on the banks of the Ramganga river, the Park is covered with dense Sal Forests where around 50 species of mammals, 585 species of birds and 25 species of reptiles have been recorded.
The Park is known for its tiger, elephant and leopard sightings. Other wildlife species found here are sambar, chinkara, hog deer, chital, barking deer, crocodile, python, cobra etc. Jeep Safari and Elephant safari are offered in the Park. The best time to visit the Park is from November to February and March to June. The Park remains closed from June 15 to November 1.
Nanda Devi National Park
Located near the beautiful Nanda Devi Peak, Nanda Devi National Park was founded in 1980. Nanda Devi Peak is the second tallest peak (the first being Kanchanjunga) in India. So a visit to the Park will not only give you an opportunity to sight a variety of wildlife but will also reward you with arresting views of Nanda Devi Peak. UNESCO conferred the title of a 'World Heritage Site' on the Park in 1982.
Some of the fauna that will enchant you in the Park include Bharal, Brown Bear, Common Langur, Goral, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Musk Deer, Leopard, Serow and Snow Leopard. The avifauna found in this national park are the Grosbeaks, Rose Finches, Ruby Throat and Warblers. The best time to travel to the Park is from April to October.
Valley Of Flowers National Park
As is clear from its name, the Valley of Flowers is a land dotted with a wide variety of flowers but this is not all, the Valley has a lot more to offer. The Valley of Flowers is a colorful National Park with colorful and beautiful flowers offering immense joy to its visitors. There are around 300 species of flowers in the Park. Colorful butterflies flitting from one flower to another can also be seen here. It is situated in the upper reaches of Bhyundar Ganga.
The landscape of the Valley encompasses dense forests, river Pushupati and enchanting waterfalls, which makes it a great destination for nature lovers. Some of the animals inhabiting the Park are Musk Deer, Blue sheep (Bharal), Himalayan Bear, Himalayan Mouse Hare�Himalayan birds and Snow Leopard. The most propitious season to visit the Park is from mid July to September.
Apart from these famous wildlife destinations, Askot Sanctuary, Rajaji National Park and Govind Wildlife Sanctuary are the other wildlife destinations in Uttaranchal.